Level controller



Patented Sept. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEVEL CONTROLLER.

Elgan C. Amidon, Medford, Oreg.

Application October 10, 1952, Serial No. 314,197

6 Claims. 137-209) This invention relates to the class of pressureregulators and more particularly to a novel means for maintaining therequired air pressure in the water tank of a water supply system. v

In a pressure tank of the type on which the device comprising thepresent invention is adapted to be installed, the water or other fluidcontained therein is under a cushion of compressed air maintainedbetween the usually desired limits of pounds per square inch and 40pounds per square inch pressure. As water is withdrawn from the tank thewater level drops with a cor responding expansion and reduction ofpressure of the air cushion. If the water supply and air pressure arethus reduced to below the lower limit of20 pounds per square inch, thepump is automatically started and the water in the tank is replenishedto a predetermined quantity {to thus form an air cushion of 40 poundsper square inch pressure. As air is lost by absorption into the water,and for other reasons, the air cushion in the tank must be charged. Itis therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide apressure regulator which will recharge the tank to thus prevent suchfrom becoming water-logged which is simple in construction, formed fromvery few parts, easy to manufacture and assemble, and which is highlyefficient in operation.

These, together with various ancillary objects of the invention whichwill become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attainedby this level controller, a preferred embodiment of which has beenillustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only;wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view showing the level controller inoperative implacement on a water tank; and

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional detail view showing in greatest detailsome of the important elements of the invention.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein likereference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,reference numeral I0 is used to generally designate a pressure tank inwhich water under pressure is adapted to be contained. Such tank II] hasconnected to it a supply system for fluid which is pumped into the tankin a conventional manner. Discharge outlets are provided at the base ofthe tank for removal of the water. At the top of the tank It there isprovided a threaded neck portion l2 to which the base plate I! having adepending nipple i6 is secured.

The base plate l4 forms a portion of a first chamber I8 and is securedto an upper plate 20 by means of bolts 22. The bolts 22 extend through afirst diaphragm 24 which is secured within the first chamber I8 aboutits periphery and held in place by the depending flange 26 of the plate20. The diaphragm 24 is provided with an upper plate 28 and a lowerplate 30. A hollow tubular member 32 extends through the diaphragm 24and upper and lower plates 28 and 30, respectively. The tubular memberis threaded as at 34 and is held in locked position by means of nut 36pressing the lower plate 30 so as to urge the upper portion of the upperplate against an annular shoulder 38 formed on the tubular member 32.The tubular member extends upwardly through the base plate 40 of asecond chamber. Cooperating with the bas plate 40 to form the secondchamber is a cover plate 42. A plurality of supporting rods 44 which aresecured at one end thereof to the plate 20 are provided with threadedportions 46 at the other end thereof which extend through the base plate40 and the cover plate 42. Between the base plate 40 and the cover plate42 and held in place by the depending flange 48 of the cover plate 42 isa second diaphragm 50. Nuts 52 are used to insure an air tight sealbetween the base plate 40 and the cover plate 42 and the diaphragm 5|].The diaphragm 50 is so constructed as to leave a minimum of air spacebetween the cover plate 12 and the diaphragm 50. The diaphragm 50 has anupper and lower plate 54 and 56, respectively, and firmly engaged withthese plates and held in place by retaining nut 58 is the tube 42 whichis threaded as at 60. The tubular member 32 is also internally threadedas at 62 for reception of a plug 64 forming a part of a valve assembly66 to which a depending rod 68 is afiixed. A float 10 is adjustablysecured to the end of the rod 68. Guides 12 are formed in the tube 32for insuring and guiding the travel of the rod 68 so as to insure properseating of the valve 66.

In operation with the automatic electric switch on the supply pump setfor limits of 20 pounds per square inch to 40 pounds per square inchpressure, as water is used the water level in the tank will drop untilthe pressure of the air cushion above the water is reduced to 20 poundsper square inch. The pump will then be activated and pump more waterinto the tank until the air in the tank has reached the pressure of 40pounds per square inch and the pump has been stopped by the automaticswitch. During this process air in the tank will pass up the nipple i6and exert pressure on the diaphragm 24 which will lift the tubularmember 32 so as to activate the diaphragm 50 decreasing the volume ofthe upper portion 72 of the second chamber and thus forcing air throughthe hollow tube 32 back into the tank I0. As water is used and thepressure falls to 20 pounds per square inch, a spring ill extendingbetween and resiliently engaging the plate 46 and a collar 76 formedfrom two lock nuts screwed on the tubular member 32 will force thetubular member 32 downwardly. When the diaphragm '58 thus movesdownwardly, thevolume of the portion 72 of the second chamber willincrease thus opening check valve Ttwhi'ch is actuated by theatmospheric pressure 'thus fi'lling the portion 72 of the chamber.

be repeated and put more air into the tank.

In the event too much air was forced into the tank the water level wouldlower and the float it would be suspended thus causing the valve 65 toopen filling the space 72 with air from the tank under pressurepreventing air from the outside from entering. After the tank was usedfor a period the water would gradually rise until the float was againsubmerged and the valve 66 closed.

Accordingly, it can be readily seen that this simple device will preventa tank for fluids under pressure from becoming water-logged, anunsatisfactory condition caused by lack of the proper quantity of'air inthe tank. Since from the foregoing the construction and advantages ofthis level controller are readily apparent, further description isbelieved to be unnecesary, However, since numerous modifications willreadily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of theforegoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended tolimit the invention to the precise embodiment shown and described,-

but various modifications and equivalents may be restorted to within thescope of the appended claims. 7

. Having described the invention, what. is, claimed as new is:

1. A fluid level controller for use in pressure storage tanks comprisinga first chamber adapted to be secured to a tank and open to gaseouspressure in said tank, a first diaphragm in said chamber, a hollowtubular member extending through. said first diaphragm and open to thegaseous pressure in said tank, a second chamber,.,

a plurality of support members extending between said chambers, saidsupport members be-. ing terminally secured to said chambers, a seconddiaphragm in said second chamber dividing.

said second chamber into a first and a second. pressure portion, a checkvalve on said second.

chamber adapted to open said first pressure por-,. tion to atmosphericpressure, said tubular member extending through said second diaphragmandadapted to communicate with said first pres.- sure portion, a reliefvalve, the valve seat of saidrelief valve being carried. by said tubularmember, a rod having a float attached at one end thereof, said rod beingseemed to said valve, said storage tanks comprising a first chamberadapted to be secured to a tank and open .to gaseous pres- 2. A fluidlevel controller for use in pressure 4 sure in said tank, a firstdiaphragm in said chamber, a hollow tubular member extending throughsaid first diaphragm and open to the gaseous pressure in said tank, asecond chamber, a plurality of support members extending between saidchambers, said support members being terminally secured to saidchambers, a second diaphragm in said second chamber dividing said secondchamber into a first and a second pressure portion, acheck valve onsaid" second chamber adapted taopensaid'first pressure portion toatmospheric pressure, said tubular member extending through said seconddiaphragm and When the, supply pump is again started'th'e' process wouldadapted to communicate with said first pressure portion, a relief valve,the valve seat of said re- -lief valve: being carried by said tubularmember, ,a rod having a float attached at one end thereof, said rodbeing secured to said valve, said relief valvebeing activated to opensaid tubular member to said first pressure portion upon downwardmovement of said float upon removal of a predetermined quantity ofliquid from said tank, and spring means continuously biasing saidtubular member to close said relief valve.

3-. A fluid level controller for use in pressure storage tankscomprising a first chamber adapted to be secured to a tank and open togaseous pressure in said tank, a first diaphragm in said chamber, ahollow tubular member extending through said first diaphragm and open tothe gaseous pressure in said tank, a second chamber, a plurality ofsupport members extending between said chambers, said support membersbeing terminally secured to said chambers, a sec- 0nd diaphragm in saidsecond chamber dividing said second chamber into a first and a secondpressure portion, a check valve on said second chamber adapted to opensaid first pressure portion to atmospheric pressure, said tubular memiber extending through said second diaphragm and adapted to communicatewith said first pressure portion, a relief valve, the valve seat of saidrelief valvebeing carried by said tubular member, a rod having afloatattached at one end thereof, said rod being secured to said valve, saidrelief valve being activated to open said tubular member to said firstpressure portion upon downward movement of said float upon removal of apredetermined quantity of liquid from said tank, an annular collarsecured about said tubular member, and a spring coaxial with saidtubular member biasing said collar and said second chamber.v

4. A fluid level controller for use in pressure storage tanks comprisingafirst chamber adapted. to be secured to a tank and open to gaseouspressure in said tank, a first diaphragm in. said chamber, a hollowtubular member extending through said first diaphragm and open to thegaseous pressure i-n said tank, a second chamber,

' a plurality of support members extending betion to atmosphericpressure, said tubular member extending throughv said second diaphragmand adapted to communicate with said first pres-. sure portion, arelief. valve, the valve seat of said relief valve being. carried bysaid tubular member, a rod having a float attached at one end thereof,said. rod being secured to said valve,

said relief valve being activated to open said.

tubular member to said first pressure portion upon downward movement ofsaid fioat upon removal of a predetermined quantity of liquid from saidtank, said support members extending through said second diaphragm, andmeans engaging said support members securing said second chamber andsaid second diaphragm to said support members.

5. A fiuid level controller for use in pressure storage tanks comprisinga first chamber adapted to be secured to a tank and open to gaseouspressure in said tank, a first diaphragm in said chamber, a hollowtubular member extending through said first diaphragm and open to thegaseous pressure in said tank, a second chamher, a plurality of supportmembers extending between said chambers, said support members beingterminally secured to said chambers, a second diaphragm in said secondchamber dividing said second chamber into a first and a second pressureportion, a check valve on said second chamber adapted to open said firstpressure portion to atmospheric pressure, said tubular member extendingthrough said second diaphragm and adapted to communicate with said firstpressure portion, a relief valve, the valve seat of said relief valvebeing carried by said tubular member, a rod having a float attached atone end thereof, said rod being secured to said valve, said relief valvebeing activated to open said tubular member to said first pressureportion upon downward movement of said fioat upon removal of apredetermined quantity of liquid from said tank, said support membersextending through said second diaphragm, and means engaging said supportmembers securing said second chamber and said second diaphragm to saidsupport members, an annular collar secured about said tubu- 6 larmember, and a spring coaxial with said tubular member biasing saidcollar and said second chamber.

6. A fluid level controller for use in pressure storage tanks comprisinga first chamber adapted to be secured to a tank and open to gaseouspressure in said tank, a first diaphragm in said chamber, a hollowtubular member extending through said first diaphragm and open to thegaseous pressure in said tank, a second chamber, a plurality of supportmembers extending between said chambers, said support members beingterminally secured to said chamber, a second diaphragm in said secondchamber dividing said second chamber into a first and a second pressureportion, a check valve on said second chamber adapted to open said firstpressure portion to atmospheric pressure, said tubular member extendingthrough said second diaphragm and adapted to communicate with said firstpressure portion, a relief valve, the valve seat of said relief valvebeing carried by said tubular member, a rod having a fioat attached atone end thereof, said rod being secured to said valve, said relief valvebeing activated to open said tubular member to said first pressureportion upon downward movement of said float upon removal of apredetermined quantity of liquid from tank, and guides in said tubularmember, said rod extending between said guides.

ELGAN C. AMIDON.

iteferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSMcMullen et a1. June 10, 1941

